Who's Been Chewing On My Angelfish?

[korunks]

Was told to ask in the ciclids forum this question I asked in the tropical fish emergency thread. I hope this is the right place.


Okay I have a small angelfish(oreo ), LFS says it can go in a 10 gallon tank but I knew better and put in a 20 gallon that is not fully stocked yet. My wife calls me at work and says some one has chewed on the angelfish and sure enough I get home and his top fin is all tatters and shreds . None of its tank mates seem overly aggressive towards it and it even swims with my(much larger than the angelfish) Blue gourami's So I am not sure who the aggressor is. The angel fish is in the hospital tank soon to be treated with Melafix to aid in fin regrowth, but I need to know whom the villain is so I can do the aquarium shuffle and move the grumpy fish out so the angelfish can eventually return home. List of tank mates are as follows:

1 sailfin pleco
2 Blue Gourami's
4 cherry barbs
3 redtail rasboras


any help would be much appreciated, now if you all will excuse I have to tend to poor little oreo.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I would suspect the gourami, personally.

 

[sswm]

I would suspect the gourami, personally.

i agree out of that list

 

[korunks]

I wasn't sure because the angelfish was following the gouramis around when I got home, I thought that if they had mauled him he would stay away from them. I thought maybe the cherry barbs because they recently went from six to four. But I'll probably re home the gouramis.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hold on, don't do that till' you are 100% sure. I have never seen any aggressive cherry barbs, they are one of the most docile barbs out there. Try to sit and watch the tank for a while, and see if you can catch the bully in action.

 

[Straydum]

gouramis? i doubt the barbs or the rasboras. or maybe the pleco!

 

[korunks]

Well I don't know if watching the tank will help much as I have already removed the angelfish. Never had any problems before adding the angelfish so I am unsure. I haven't rehomed any other fish yet. I will do that when the angels fins have healed, and that will take a while so I have plenty of time to think. I just have a hard time thinking the Gourami's did it because they have always been so calm not hurting any other fish, but They seem to be the only ones big enough and fast enough. Thanks for all the replies, I'll keep everyone posted on the progress.

 

[Tayful]

Wow, all of your fish seem like they would be pretty non-aggressive. My guesses would be the gourami or the barb, but don't do anything hasty! Punishing an innocent fish is a very wrong move, because that would only instill more violence in the real bully. Sorry to hear this, and tell the victim I wish him or her a quick recovery! Best of luck.